Busker psychology

if you got talent, drop a hat, be sincere, and talk to those that talk to you...

(and play your ass off)

good luck, grasshopper.

Of course I'll do that too Master Yoda, but I'm a man of science at heart. Smart work beats hard work any day.

smart in the planning, heart with the execution...

(music and science don't mix, unless you are T Dolby)

you'll be fine.

(I asked on another thred, can you see the Venus ~ Jupiter event from where you are, and is it different from our view?)

Damn straight.

I have little experience with psychology, but more with busking (don't ask I hate busking but was forced to do so as a kid).



Doesn't matter in a first world country, you want lots of foot traffic, everyone can afford a coin or two, and you need volume. You want to sit down (so that loiterers obscure you, and others have to stop if they want to see what they are looking at) and you want steady foot traffic.



Yes. And the sign should be upbeat and positive.



Yes, put some coins in and one small bill (to show that it's not crazy to give a bill but also not miserly to give a coin).



Yes, likewise if there is too much.



Yes, if it's too small they have to get too close. A guitar case (the hard kind) works very well.



If you do it, I want video or pics. Last tip: don't bank it all on one location. If you are there an hour without much in way of results move.

Hey thanks very much Robert that's a great help!

Since I'm singing there might be one or two complications, but they shouldn't be too bad. a) It's better to sing standing; b) I don't have an instrument case. Could be difficult thinking of a container.

And sorry, when you said "likewise if there is too much" did you mean that they will give less?

Cheers

Yes, if there's too much in the collection fewer people will give.

I also should warn you that I think busking without an instrument is a lot harder, I don't think I've seen it done solo (have seen it done in quartets).

Edit: You may want to do the hat for the container. If it's slow you can pass it around after songs.

It doesn't hurt to have a ..... ahem.....partner .....who drops a couple of bills in your container every time a crowd gathers.....

Na I've had plenty of experience with solo singing. It'll be fine. All I need is something to give me pitch, and then I'm set.

Haha I might try that too.